Champagne myth-busting, wildlife experiences, and transformational clinical research. Here’s a taster of events across Victoria this National Science Week.
Why Science Needs the ‘Social’ – Solving Complex Problems with Interdisciplinary Thinking. 21 August, Melbourne.
What do climate change, AI, energy, health and inequality have in common? Solving them requires more than scientific and technological breakthroughs. It requires understanding people, behaviour and society.
This panel brings together leading voices from the social sciences, natural sciences, engineering and public policy to explore why truly innovative solutions demand interdisciplinary thinking. Featuring Professor Kate Darian-Smith, Distinguished Professor Lisa M. Given, Professor Xavier Mulet, Dr Amanda Caples and Professor Rob Raven, with Dr Shane Huntington OAM as moderator, the discussion will tackle critical questions about how we can better integrate social and technical knowledge, strengthen support for the social sciences, and turn cross-disciplinary collaboration into real-world impact.
Champagne Science – Bubbles, myths and magic. 25 August, Melbourne.
What makes Champagne sparkle and why do we love it so much? The answer lies in a fascinating mix of chemistry, physics, history and craftsmanship.
Join science communicator Emma Donnelly for a special of Talks on Tuesdays, Melbourne’s pub lecture series where great conversations flow as easily as the drinks. From the millions of bubbles dancing in your glass to the science of flavour, aroma and fizz, Emma will reveal the surprising secrets hidden inside every bottle. Discover whether glass shape really matters, what happens when Champagne is poured, and why some of the most enduring Champagne myths refuse to die.
Packed with demonstrations, myth-busting and sparkling insights, this lively talk will change the way you see Champagne forever.
Wona Bae and Charlie Lawler – Primary Succession. 15 August, Dandenong.
Shaped by climate crisis, biodiversity loss and ecological change, Primary Succession by Wona Bae and Charlie Lawler explores how life reorganises after environmental rupture.
Drawing on research across Melbourne and Greater Dandenong, the artists imagine futures where ecological memory and eco-intelligence replace human-centred systems of control. At the heart of the work is the grey-headed flying fox, a vital pollinator and seed disperser whose survival is closely linked to ecosystem health and regeneration.
Through immersive environments, sculptural forms and speculative ecologies, Primary Succession invites audiences to consider regeneration not as an endpoint, but as an ongoing process of adaptation, resilience and renewal in a rapidly changing world.
The Secret Life of Soil. 20 August, Carlton.
Beneath every thriving garden, farm and forest lies a hidden world of fungi, microbes and microscopic life working to support ecosystems, store carbon and sustain our food systems.
Join ABC Radio National’s Hilary Harper in conversation with Gardening Australia’s Hannah Moloney and Museums Victoria’s Simon Hinkley as they uncover the remarkable networks connecting life below ground to life above.
Together, they’ll explore how modern agriculture has disrupted these vital relationships and how regenerative practices could help restore them. Discover why soil is far more than dirt. It is a living, dynamic system that plays a crucial role in the health of our environment and our collective future.
In Conversation: Patricia Piccinini and Professor Melissa Little. 15 August, Parkville.
What does hope look like in science today?
Join us for a very special in-conversation event between renowned artist Patricia Piccinini and international stem cell expert Professor Melissa Little, moderated by Alanta Colley. Patricia and Melissa will reflect on creativity, scientific innovation in stem cell research and societal impact, exploring how art can help us make sense of science and a field moving toward once‑unimaginable solutions.
Walk with Wildlife Experience. 15 – 23 August, Apollo Bay.
Step into a thriving wildlife sanctuary on the Great Ocean Road and discover science in action.
Nestled in the heart of the Otways, Wildlife Wonders offers a rare opportunity to encounter native wildlife roaming freely in protected habitats, safe from introduced predators. Guided by an ecological conservationist, you’ll explore eucalypt woodlands, lush fern gullies and coastal grasslands, uncovering the stories hidden in birdsong, animal tracks and the intricate world beneath your feet. Along the way, discover how observation, curiosity and science help us better understand and protect the natural world.
At the onsite Research Base, meet the science behind the sanctuary and learn how researchers from the Conservation Ecology Centre are restoring threatened species and building more resilient ecosystems across the Otways.
Water Exhibition – Opening exhibition and engaging panel discussion. 14 August, Sale.
To celebrate National Science Week in August the Bond Street Event Centre will be hosting a major art exhibition about ‘Water’, exhibiting works from four Gippsland based artists.
At this exhibition opening, all four artists will form the panel guided by a facilitator for the detailed discussion. The panel discussion will strongly encourage engagement and communication between the artists and the audience creating captivating, thoughtful conversations in an informal, relaxed and welcoming environment. We aim for the discussion to span cultural, societal, philosophical, scientific, and other perspectives on the theme of Water. We will also explore how artists use design, colour, line, shape symbolism, metaphor and other artistic techniques to communicate ideas, evoke emotions, and convey meaning through their work.
Chris Sobey – Dedicating a lifetime’s work to science and new treatments for stroke. 19 August, Wodonga.
Join Distinguished Professor Chris Sobey for an inspiring look at the science transforming stroke treatment and improving patient outcomes.
A leading medical researcher, Professor Sobey has spent decades advancing our understanding of how the brain and cardiovascular system function in health and disease. His current research focuses on the inflammatory and oxidative processes that occur after stroke, with the goal of developing new and more effective therapies.
Discover how breakthrough research moves from the laboratory to the clinic. Along the way, gain insight into the challenges and rewards of designing and delivering large-scale national clinical trials that have the potential to change lives.
Find more events in Victoria by visiting scienceweek.net.au
